The skeleton of a man has been found in the lounge of his city centre flat – almost two years after his death.

Simon Allen’s remains were discovered when deep cleaners went to his home in Leopold Road, Brighton.

The skeleton of Mr Allen, who is believed to have been 50 when he died, was discovered dressed only in socks lying behind his armchair in the living room of the flat on November 19.

Eleven days earlier, his landlord, housing association Affinity Sutton, and bailiffs went into the first floor flat after numerous rent bills went unpaid, building up “significant arrears”.

But they did not notice Mr Allen’s body. After his inquest his inquest on Wednesday coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said she was “particularly saddened” that a relatively young man had not been missed.

She could not discover a cause of death and recorded an open verdict, adding it was believed Mr Allen died in December 2010.

She added: “There is no suggestion that anybody should, or could, have done anything different. It seems that he chose his somewhat reclusive lifestyle.”

No family or friends could be traced and there were few personal items in the flat, which Mr Allen moved into in 1999.